Public hearings on R&D financing

Based on the outcome of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, the 61st World Health Assembly adopted the global strategy and the agreed parts of the plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property (resolution WHA61.21) in May 2008.

Resolution WHA61.21 on the Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, in particular paragraph 4(7), requested the Director-General … “to establish urgently a results-oriented and time-limited expert working group to examine current financing and coordination of research and development, as well as proposals for new and innovative sources of funding to stimulate research and development related to Type II and Type III diseases and the specific research and development needs of developing countries in relation to Type I diseases, and open to consideration of proposals from Member States, and to submit a progress report to the Sixty-second World Health Assembly and the final report to the Sixty-third World Health Assembly through the Executive Board”.

The Expert Working Group on R&D financing was established in November 2008. At its first meeting held in Geneva from 12 to 14 January 2009, the Expert Working Group agreed to invite Member States and other stakeholders to submit proposals within the context and scope of the paragraph cited above on innovative sources of funding to stimulate R&D related to diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries, for consideration by the Expert Group.

First public hearing

Leading up to the second meeting of the Expert Working Group on R&D Financing in June 2009, WHO contacted Member States to solicit proposals and also set up a web-based public hearing between 7 March and 15 April open to individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private sector and other interested parties. In response to both of these initiatives, WHO has received the following contributions.

Second public hearing

In its second meeting in June 2009, the Expert Working Group agreed to hold a second web-based public hearing open to Member States, individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private sector and other interested parties and, in this connection, to invite comments on the evaluation framework, evaluation criteria and the inventory of financing proposals being considered by the EWG from those with particular knowledge, experience or expertise. The public hearing was open between 17 August and 5 September.